French C&E plays an important role in protecting public security: combating terrorism and organized crime throughout the French territory (e.g. implementing the "Vigipirate" program), carrying out security checks at airports and in the Channel Tunnel between France (Coquelles) and England (Folkestone), controlling imports of weapons and ammunition. In FY 2000, Customs seized and forfeited 2848 weapons.

It enforces interdictions and restrictions on exports of war materials, military items and dual use goods, and monitors compliance with embargoes enacted by the International Community in support of international peace keeping.

In France, as in many other countries, Customs is the leading government agency in narcotics seizures. During 2002, Customs intercepted more than 46.6 tons of illegal drugs (cocaine and crack, heroin, marijuana and amphetamines) and more than 1.9 million tablets of ecstasy through preventive control by staff at seaports, airports and inland, coastal surveillance by cutters, aircraft and helicopters, and as a result of specialist investigations based on information and intelligence gathered from various sources at home and abroad.

Customs also takes an active part in detecting and fighting money laundering, collecting and processing the mandatory Reports of international transportation of currency or monetary instrument. In FY 2002, 1784 violations of the reporting requirement have been detected for a total amont of €233 millions. 25147 currency reports have been handed over to customs. Customs also works closely with Tracfin (Traitement du renseignement et action contre les circuits financiers clandestins), a specialized Unit set up within the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry (under the authority of the French Customs & Excise Commissioner), which is responsible nation-wide for collecting and analyzing all money laundering intelligence and information as well as for processing the suspicious activity reports filed by banks and other financial institutions. Tracfin has signed a number of bilateral agreements with other Financial crime intelligence units all over the world, such as FinCEN in the U.S (in 1992) and Mexico's Procuraduria Fiscal de la Federacion (in 1997). In FY 2000, 2537 SARs have been filed with Tracfin.

Counterfeiting is a constant threat to businesses and often poses a danger to the public health and safety. In FY 2002, Customs seized some 1 272 433 counterfeit products violating trademarks.

As a result of the implementation of the "Single Market", in 1993, between all Member States of the European Union, European Community goods imported into France and those exported from France to other Member States are no longer cleared in Customs. But the movement of some sensitive goods to and from other Member States is still subject to Customs formalities and checks: e.g. war materials, dual use goods, weapons and explosives, artificial radioactive elements, licit drugs and narcotics, medicines, toxic waste, blood, human organs.

In FY 2002, 1749 works of art have been seized and forfeited.

Customs cutters and boats, with aircraft support, conduct routine law enforcement patrols and special operations in French coastal waters as well as in adjacent maritime zones. Their activities at sea also include aids to navigation, search and rescue, marine safety and marine environmental protection.

Customs implements the provisions of applicable international trade agreements or unilateral systems (preferential treatment, quantitative limits on imports of specified goods from certain countries) and measures of economic protection (such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties) prescribed by the European Union.

A major responsibility in the field of export and import controls is related to the European Community’s Common Agricultural Policy (C.A.P.). Customs & Excise applies the physical and documentary controls at export and import and is responsible for collecting agricultural levies and other charges at import or export. Intervention Boards (Offices d’intervention) are responsible for any payments or refunds to traders.

Customs assesses and collects the protective duties on imported goods from outside the European Union that are set out in the Common Tariff of the European Community. Such duties (and agricultural levies) no longer accrue to the national treasury but are paid over to the Community as part of its income or "own resources".

The Customs & Excise Service is responsible for the collection of statistics relating to external trade. Detailed statistical information is made available to trade subscribers as well as by accessing a database ("Béatrice") from 11 Customs Infocenters.

Over the years, Customs has developed a whole range of procedures with a view to improving the service offered to its customers and stakeholders (traders, carriers, brokers, importers and exporters, etc.). Trade Advisory Units ("cellules conseils") have been set up in all the Collections. Importers and exporters can be approved for clearance of goods at their own premises(procédure de dédouanement à domicile or P.D.D., i.e. "local clerance procedure" or LCP) and some 40 per cent of import and export transactions are dealt with under the LCP. Other simplified procedures (procédures simplifiées de dédouanement or P.D.S., i.e. "simplified clearance procedures" or SCP) have been made available through the entire French territory since April 1998. And a new clearance procedure for express consignments (procédure de dédouanement express or P.D.E.) has been implemented since the 23rd of November 1998. Customs also operates a computerized entry processing system called "Sofi", which is enhanced on a regular basis. Close partnerships have been established with seaports and airports in order to facilitate the flow of conveyances and merchandise.